Your Backyard Is Newest National Heritage Area In U.S.

SEATTLE, WA - It begins in Seattle in the shadow of the orange Art Deco Pacific Medical Center and heads east for 100-odd miles, across Mercer Island and the Issaquah-Preston-Snoqualmie Trail, under Mt. Si and South Cle Elum Ridge, and over the Columbia River.

But the Mountains To Sound Greenway is more than just a straight-shot along I-90 through the Cascades. It's a massive slice of land double the size of Rhode Island that touches just about every city in Puget Sound from Redmond to Renton, and includes everything from hikes to history museums.

And on March 12 it was named the newest National Heritage Area in the United States.

There are just 54 heritage sites in the nation, including places like Niagara Falls, the Gulf Coast, and Michigan's auto manufacturing region. The Mountains To Sound Greenway is also the first heritage area in the Pacific Northwest, and is the result of eight years of lobbying by local boosters.

With this designation, the greenway gets a profile boost. There are also financial benefits with up to $1 million a year available from the National Park Service.

It's going to be a beautiful weekend in Puget Sound, the perfect opportunity to explore the greenway. Here are six activities in the Mountains To Sound Greenway heritage area you can do within just a few miles of home.

St. Edward State Park: This must-see park along the northeast shore of Lake Washington includes hiking trails and an astonishing former seminary building. 14445 Juanita Drive Northeast, Kenmore. Discover Pass required.

Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park: There are over 130 acres of forest and countless mountain biking trails at this park on the Sammamish Plateau. Issaquah-Fall City Road, Issaquah. Free.

Mercer Slough Nature Park: There are 7 miles of hiking trails across 320 acres of wetland, this is also one of the best spots for a canoe trip in the Seattle-Bellevue area. 3000 Bellevue Way Southeast, Bellevue. Free.

Rattlesnake Ledge: Take a quick stroll around Rattlesnake Lake or link up with the Cedar River Trail (which you can take all the way back to Lake Washington in Renton). A hike up to Rattlesnake Ledge is quick and easy enough for the whole family. 17905 Cedar Falls Road Southeast, North Bend. Free.

Renton History Museum: The history of Renton is pretty much the history of the entire region, and this tiny museum is packed with artifacts and exhibits from the past. 235 Mill Ave. South, Renton. Free on March 16.

Jim Ellis Freeway Park: You can't miss this lid over I-5 in downtown because it's named for the man who founded the Mountain to Sound Greenway. It's also the perfect place to start a day of sightseeing in downtown Seattle. 700 Seneca St., Seattle. Free.

Find even more things to do inside the MTS Greenway here.